The Thomas Blog

Who’s Downloading CAD Files?

Over the last few years, you’ve probably noticed that the phone doesn’t ring as often in the Sales Engineer bullpen.

There are still prospects out there, though — they’re just now seeking the information they need online rather than calling manufacturers directly.

3 Reasons ISO Standards Aren't Enough To Get Specified

International standards like ISO, ANSI, NEMA are well-established across businesses in the industrial market.

These standards, developed by technical experts in national and international trade associations, influence market requirements and have become the benchmark for quality among manufacturers.

However, the standards must be broad enough to apply to different businesses and applications, and thus define form, fit and function at only generic levels.

"The Phone Doesn’t Ring Anymore"

Your phone used to ring off the hook with sales opportunities. But there’s a problem — it isn’t ringing anymore.

This doesn’t mean sales opportunities are dwindling. It’s a sign that phones have been replaced by a new tool — your website — and other dynamic sales tools like eCatalogs.

It’s also a reflection of our times where younger millennials look to self-service, digital sources to drive their workflows.

Product Manufacturers: Are You Targeting Your Audience With The Right Content?

In the industrial space, marketing and sales leaders target three common personas: Engineers, Procurement Managers, and Plant MRO Managers.

Each of these personas has different primary concerns based around their job focus and function within their company. Let’s take a look at these three personas in detail, so you can better understand your audiences and how to reach them.

Navigator Brings Thousands Of CAD Files, Product Specs to TE-CO Customers

World class product manufacturer leverages Thomas's technology to offer richer product data and 3D CAD models

TE-CO Workholding has integrated its website with the Navigator Platform, a Thomas technology that allows TE-CO to provide its customers with thousands of CAD models and product specifications.

The announcement follows a recent partnership between the two companies that emerged to help TE-CO and its distributors improve efficiencies in the availability and flow of rich product data to provide end-users with a better digital experience when searching for TE-CO products.

Thomas Featured on ENGINEERING.com

ENGINEERING.com recently featured Thomas in an article detailing the approaches Building Product Manufacturers (BPMs) are taking to respond to building information modeling (BIM), a new process for designing and constructing commercial buildings.

Amphenol Canada To Provide Dynamic CAD Engine And eCatalog Through Thomas Partnership

Amphenol Canada customers will have streamlined access to CAD models, part specifications and other rich product data.

In an effort to deliver on-demand access to its 3D CAD library and deliver a positive digital customer experience, Amphenol Canada is implementing the Thomas eCatalog and dynamic CAD solution on its website.

Enrich Data, Boost Manufacturing Sales: How Manufacturers and Distributors Can Bridge The Service Gap

Manufacturers and distributors rely on each other to support and grow their respective businesses, both of which are based on a mutual goal: Sales.

But what happens when monthly figures show sales below expectations? Despite unsatisfactory results, both parties simply rationalize the problem as “the way it is” and grudgingly continue to tolerate the problem rather than solve it.

Become BIM-Ready Today — Thomas Enterprise Experts Host Free BIM Webinar

Architects, engineers and contractors in the AEC industry have increased their focus on how they can improve efficiencies and better meet owners’ demands for an ‘as-built’ BIM model at the completion of a project.  Utilizing more manufacturer-specific BIM models, complete with specs, performance characteristics and standards like COBIE, is becoming more important.

These AEC professionals seek products from manufacturers that can deliver the rich and detailed information they need, exactly when it’s needed in their process. To meet these expectations, building product manufacturers need to re-tool and re-think their sales and marketing process to fully adapt to the new demands of BIM.